2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Bumps in the road + Dodge Ram = CLUNK!

[HoleshotHolset]

Alright - I've talked to a couple of people and we're sick and tired of looking like idiots when driving our trucks over bumpy roads.



Does your truck make a horrendous clunk when going over bumps in the road? (Specifically - clunks that sound like they're coming from the rear suspension... )



Andy Sebek has a '98 quad-cab and I have a '98 quad-cab - they both have overload springs in the back... and they both have really BAD clunks in the rearend somewhere... We both have tried removing the rear sway bars and they both still make the clunking noise.



We've both driven plenty of trucks with overload springs and we've never had 'em make such a racket when going over bumpy roads...



The noise almost sounds like someone throwing a tool box down a flight of stairs... yeah, it's THAT bad. It's embarassing, too... for such nice trucks to be making so much noise just from hitting a bump...



My fuel tank seems tight - so I'm at a loss as to what it could be... the spare tire is tight too...



Any ideas would be most appreciated...



Matt

 

[rholcom2]

Are the rubber stops missing off of your Tailgate?? A friend of mine has a Chevy and it is missing the rubber bumper stops and his gate rattles all the time. Just a thought

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I re-adjusted my tailgate so that it pushes harder against the rubber bumpers... it's as tight as my '94 and my '94 doesn't make the noise...



Lots of people seem to think that it's the overload springs... is there anything different over the years in how the overload springs are setup?



Matt

 

[PKleine]

I don't have a solution, but I do have a 2001 that also makes that loud clunk. It happens most with the slide in camper installed. Seems like the right rear. Everything is tight and the bumpers are there. I don't know what it is but I suppose I'll know shortly after it falls/breaks off... .

 

[HoleshotHolset]

"It happens most with the slide in camper installed. "



This helps to strengthen the overload spring theory...



Both Andy's truck and my truck have caps/toppers on them...



Matt

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Have you bubbas tried removing the cans and/or bottles from the bed?

Any ideas would be most appreciated...

Are you sure?

 

[TURBOs4LIFE]

YES mine does it also and I have the overload springs!

 

[PKleine]

Originally posted by Ol'TrailDog

Have you bubbas tried removing the cans and/or bottles from the bed?







Are you sure?

Sounds more like an empty barrel than a bottle. In any event , I just rechecked, the bed is empty...

 

[Desert Proven]

I used to have the same problem with my truck. I replaced the rear overload springs with the T-REX mini leaf pack. Without the overload leaf in place, I don't have the clunking sound. I am pretty sure that the sound you are hearing is the rear overload springs bouncing off the upper leaf stops.



You might try loading your truck up to where the overloads springs touch and then see if you still have the sound.

 

[Tom W]

I replaced my overloads with " Roadmaster Active Suspension"

This makes a very significant improvement. When going over speed bumps the rear behaves just like the front. The overall handling is improved with and without loads. I am very happy with it. Maybe others will give some input.



I got mine from Mr. Bob's Distributing.



These numbers are old but may still be good.



1 661 245 0319 -- email address removed --



Tom

 

[Tcolesanti]

Its the stock overloads either getting smacked with the rest of the spring pack or smacked against the contact for the overload spring. Mine did this everyday over the same bump coming out of base and it would be worse under acceleration. I took off my overloads and added airbags=no more clunk. Old Helper springs are great paperweights, or boat anchors!!!!

 

[Matt42]

Clank Cure

My clanking and banging stopped--temporarily--when I was carrying pallets full of ceramic floor tile, right at GVW.



It seems that a partial load clanks worse. Our office Chebby 6. 5 is worse yet. It telegraphs the noise thru the frame to the front end.

 

[MKoth]

Same thing happens on mine, loud clunk on most big bumps.



You can even see the spots where the overloads have all the dust and gravel rubbed off them from hitting the upper stops.

 

[ramfan2]

My 98. 5 did the same thing the first couple of years. I finally took it to the dealer and they told me it was the over loads slapping. They put on a set of 1 ton springs (under warranty) and it's never happened since.



Chris

 

[DPelletier]

Its the overloads and its normal. If you don't like the noise, take them off. If you need more carrying capacity than the main spring pack, then add air bags.



Dave

 

[todt061458]

are you telling me that I have to empty the back of the pick up? :{ can't do it too many memories back their

 

[RM]

ive had that and i slid pieces of rubber hoses over the end of the overload springs and no more noise it was a while back on my last truck it should work for you to imo

 

[TurboTweaker]

matt just take them out, and or add a leaf, or add the air bags they are all good ideas but why didnt i think off the rubber hose thingy? ron is a smart man! well guys back to transmission round 2 mabey this time i will get the internals right and it will last longer than 15 mi. with the PM3 on level 5. a transmission with a GB trick tripple and GB vb. the setup is good for well over 400hp and im only push 300 max right? so i messed something up or something failed way to soon.



The Fat Kid

Andy



a. k. a "DROPS EVERYTHING" <---- soon to be new handle, like it?

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Sounds like Andy Sebek and I aren't alone on this issue...



Man - those things make a horrendous amount of noise...



I'm going to try the rubber hose trick when I get a chance... I don't really want to swap out u-bolts in my apartment's parking lot... :-laf



Thanks for the info, advice and words of encouragement.



It was those @*$& overload springs afterall !!!



Matt